“Warren Kinsella's book, ‘Fight the Right: A Manual for Surviving the Coming Conservative Apocalypse,’ is of vital importance for American conservatives and other right-leaning individuals to read, learn and understand.”

- The Washington Times

“One of the best books of the year.”

- The Hill Times

“Justin Trudeau’s speech followed Mr. Kinsella’s playbook on beating conservatives chapter and verse...[He followed] the central theme of the Kinsella narrative: “Take back values. That’s what progressives need to do.”

- National Post

“[Kinsella] is a master when it comes to spinning and political planning...”

- George Stroumboulopoulos, CBC TV

“Kinsella pulls no punches in Fight The Right...Fight the Right accomplishes what it sets out to do – provide readers with a glimpse into the kinds of strategies that have made Conservatives successful and lay out a credible roadmap for progressive forces to regain power.”

- Elizabeth Thompson, iPolitics

“[Kinsella] deserves credit for writing this book, period... he is absolutely on the money...[Fight The Right] is well worth picking up.”

- Huffington Post

“Run, don't walk, to get this amazing book.”

- Mike Duncan, Classical 96 radio

“Fight the Right is very interesting and - for conservatives - very provocative.”

Nasty Past

Things You Suspected You’d Regret When You Got Older, But Did Anyway, Part 397Growing up in Calgary, Alberta, in the 1970s, Warren was (not entirely surprisingly) unlike many of peers. To him, a weekend spent smoking dope and listening to Led Zep on headphones was a wasted 48 hours. If he was going to irritate his teachers and like-minded authority figures, there had to be a better way.

Along with his pals, Ras Pierre Schenk, Alan “Flesh” Macdonald and assorted other miscreants who attended Bishop Carroll and Bishop Grandin high schools, Warren decided to form a rock band. It did not matter that neither Warren nor any of his pals couldnt play any musical instrument. What mattered was an unshakeable commitment to non-conformity (to wit, all were early members of something called the NCNA – the Non-Conformist News Agency). The Social Blemishes were born.

In and about 1976, Warren, Pierre, Alan and the other members of the Blems liked rough-sounding old stuff by the likes of the Who and the Kinks. In early 1977, Warren bought a copy of the first album by the Ramones, and the Blemishes were forever transformed by punk rock.

The Blemishes practiced their punkish sounds in Alan’s basement in Southwest Calgary, bought a lot of late-night slurpees, and started to attract attention. On December 21, 1977, the Blemishes opened for Fosterchild at Bishop Carroll High School. When Alan launched into a twisted, demonic version of ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ a half-dozen teenaged girls rushed the stage. The Blems were hooked: maybe they’d never get rich playing tunes like ‘Invasion of the Tribbles,’ but getting the odd groupie wasn’t so bad.

In time, the Blemishes became the Hot Nasties. Warren (a.k.a. “Nuclear Age”) was bassist and lead singer; Ras Pierre assumed the role of lead guitarist; Sane Wayne Ahern played rhythm method guitar; and Just Plain Tom Edwards kept the beat. Most of the songs were written by Warren and Pierre.

Three of those songs, ‘I Am A Confused Teenager,’ ‘Secret of Immortality,’ and ‘Invasion of the Tribbles,’ came out on the above Social Blemish Records (More Hits Than Zits) Extended Play single in 1980. The E.P. now sells for nearly $300 (U.S.!). Later, Alan’s band, The Sturgeons, also put out a single on Social Blemish. In late 1980, the Hot Nasties issued an album-length taped collection of their songs. Some were later covered, or adapted, by the likes of Moe Berg (Pursuit of Happiness) and folk star James Keelaghan.

In 1994, a Montreal punk rock fan named Frank Manley issued a book and album about Canadian punk rock called (ironically enough, considering Warren’s later involvements) Smash the State. The album featured songs by the Hot Nasties, the Sturgeons, and the two group’s Edmonton pals, The Rock’n’Roll Bitches. After that, Punk History Canada put out a terrific collection of Canadian punk, featuring the Nasties’ ‘Getawayfromme.’

The porn movie poster that inspired their name,
and thereby helped to revolutionize an entire generation.
From the Smithsonian Nasties Collection.

Buy The Hot Nasties CD

For the first time ever – buy a limited-run CD version of the Hot Nasties’ EP, album, and live performances on one disk! Each signed disc is available for $10, excluding GST and postage. Send an e-mail to wkinsella@hotmail.com and be the first kid on your block to get Digital Nasties!

I went to Bishop Carroll and witnessed the Social Blemishes in action at least twice, so it was no accident. I liked the affrontery of the band. I was amazed by the negative reaction from so many others. It was a high school highlight.